Community Reviews
Confessions by Saint Augustine is a Christian classic worthy of its reputation. Just like reading any literary classic, it is probably best read in small parts and with supplemental notes.
I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this. I worried it would be very preachy, which it was in some moments. Granted, the entirety of Confessions was written as a long prayer from Augustine to God. Overall, Confessions was actually very authentic and engaging as an autobiography of Augustine. He never held back about his inner conflict with lust and his passion for seeking the truth. Struggles with lust and a desire to know your purpose in life are two things most young people can certainly relate to. I also appreciated how even after he converted to Christianity, he admitted that he still struggled with lust.
Augustine also wrote about his many friendships and how those friendships helped shape him into who he was. Again, it’s crazy how a Christian bishop who lived during the 4th and 5th centuries could be so relatable. The importance of friendships is certainly something we all struggle with nowadays. We don’t ever make time for friends. We keep ourselves busy. We make excuses. Then we get surprised by how empty and lonely we are.
Augustine also very much wrote Confessions like a philosopher. We read his intellectual thought process refuting Manichaeism and astrology. He later utilized his logic and reason to convert to Christianity. If you only read one book from Confessions, I highly recommend Book 8. It was the turning point of Augustine’s life where he finally converted. Book 8 was written in such a way that it almost felt cinematic. I wonder how Christopher Nolan would adapt a book like Confessions into the big screen. I would totally watch that movie!
I strongly emphasize the importance of reading Confessions slowly and utilizing outside material to better understand what you are reading. I also made it a point to read every footnote from the version I read, which was very informative. For example, I learned that Confessions heavily cited the Book of Psalms. Augustine was fascinated and devoted to Psalms. It made me want to reread the Book of Psalms. The reason many readers fail to understand or appreciate classical literature is that they always go into it cold. So they are left with no context or explanation, which can lead to frustration or downright boredom. This is also why I am such an advocate for book clubs as they serve as a great way to really dissect and analyze what you are reading in a broader group setting.
While overall I enjoyed reading Confessions, I can’t help but express that the last four books of Confessions were a pretty significant tonal and attention shift. Augustine focused on deep philosophical and theological concepts about memory, time, and creation. I know most people disliked the last four books, and unfortunately I agree. While I did find nuggets of truth in the last four books, it would have been better for Augustine to finish Confessions at Book Nine. Even with all that, Confessions was far superior to the superficial Christian literature we read nowadays, such as Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.
I still highly recommend Confessions. It is a great read, just not an easy one. Much like prayer, it must be read slowly and contemplatively.
I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this. I worried it would be very preachy, which it was in some moments. Granted, the entirety of Confessions was written as a long prayer from Augustine to God. Overall, Confessions was actually very authentic and engaging as an autobiography of Augustine. He never held back about his inner conflict with lust and his passion for seeking the truth. Struggles with lust and a desire to know your purpose in life are two things most young people can certainly relate to. I also appreciated how even after he converted to Christianity, he admitted that he still struggled with lust.
Augustine also wrote about his many friendships and how those friendships helped shape him into who he was. Again, it’s crazy how a Christian bishop who lived during the 4th and 5th centuries could be so relatable. The importance of friendships is certainly something we all struggle with nowadays. We don’t ever make time for friends. We keep ourselves busy. We make excuses. Then we get surprised by how empty and lonely we are.
Augustine also very much wrote Confessions like a philosopher. We read his intellectual thought process refuting Manichaeism and astrology. He later utilized his logic and reason to convert to Christianity. If you only read one book from Confessions, I highly recommend Book 8. It was the turning point of Augustine’s life where he finally converted. Book 8 was written in such a way that it almost felt cinematic. I wonder how Christopher Nolan would adapt a book like Confessions into the big screen. I would totally watch that movie!
I strongly emphasize the importance of reading Confessions slowly and utilizing outside material to better understand what you are reading. I also made it a point to read every footnote from the version I read, which was very informative. For example, I learned that Confessions heavily cited the Book of Psalms. Augustine was fascinated and devoted to Psalms. It made me want to reread the Book of Psalms. The reason many readers fail to understand or appreciate classical literature is that they always go into it cold. So they are left with no context or explanation, which can lead to frustration or downright boredom. This is also why I am such an advocate for book clubs as they serve as a great way to really dissect and analyze what you are reading in a broader group setting.
While overall I enjoyed reading Confessions, I can’t help but express that the last four books of Confessions were a pretty significant tonal and attention shift. Augustine focused on deep philosophical and theological concepts about memory, time, and creation. I know most people disliked the last four books, and unfortunately I agree. While I did find nuggets of truth in the last four books, it would have been better for Augustine to finish Confessions at Book Nine. Even with all that, Confessions was far superior to the superficial Christian literature we read nowadays, such as Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.
I still highly recommend Confessions. It is a great read, just not an easy one. Much like prayer, it must be read slowly and contemplatively.
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